Most medical and social care facilities in Ukraine are housed in Soviet-era buildings, often characterised by long, poorly lit corridors where lighting remains insufficient even under normal conditions. During blackouts, transporting patients in critical condition to operating theatres, or enabling people with disabilities to move safely from their rooms to the toilet, can become extremely difficult.
“We run a 24-hour residential care home. We currently have 173 residents, many of whom are elderly. It is vital for us that the corridors remain lit and that all equipment continues to function, even during prolonged power cuts. We needed charging stations like those donated by MSF so residents can move safely through the corridors to the medical room or the toilet during the evening or at night. For these people, this means freedom of movement,” says Antonina Rohozovets, director of the MSF partner care facility that received the donation.